Episode 19 - An Era of Change in the Golden Triangle

For people living in the area known as the Golden Triangle growing poppy flowers was once the only means of livelihood, and as a result half of the land was once covered in poppies. The Golden Triangle once the largest poppy growing area in the world, supplying more than a thousand tons of opium or related products to the international drug market. But the vast areas of poppy flowers seriously jeopardized the image of the region, as the name Golden Triangle had become synonymous with both mystery and terror. Today, through joint efforts from all the countries in concern, the Golden Triangle is being changed into a “green triangle”.

This program reveals the history of poppy growing, the obvious dangers of drug using, the past and present life of poppy growers, efforts made to replace the poppy with other plants, and internationally-coordinated actions being taken to quash poppy growing.

We will see, in this program, the first-ever HD pictures of the Golden Triangle from a Bird’s eye view. We will see lands that have been turned into farms, mountains that have turned green, and life has become peaceful. This land has become a pleasant place to live in, as peaceful as the other areas in the Mekong River.